National Sovereignty and the International Criminal Court
Abstract
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is intended to be a permanent institution with the power to exercise jurisdiction over individuals for the most serious crimes of international concern: genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. However, as written, the statute creating the court reduces the sovereignty of nations in its pursuit of protecting international human rights. This paper looks at the history leading to the formation of the ICC and the rise in stature of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in protecting the humanitarian rights of victims of armed conflict. Their importance is significant given their success at the Rome Conference that established the ICC. The effects and impact of the ICC statute on the sovereignty of the United States is reviewed. The paper concludes with options and recommendations on how the United States should proceed concerning the ICC.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 12, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA363395
Entities
People
- Donald J. Boland
Organizations
- United States Army War College